Course Overview

When the South Course of Oakland Hills was formally opened on July 13,
1918, it already enjoyed a certain degree of prestige. After all, the
course was designed by the foremost golf course architect of his day -
Donald Ross and the Club had engaged, as its first professional - Walter
Hagen who had already won the United States Open.

Oakland Hills' South Course is now world-renowned and is consistently
picked among the top ten tests of golf in the United States and, indeed,
the world. Its reputation is well earned.

No stranger to Major Championship golf, Oakland Hills as already hosted
10 Major Championships.

Year

Event

Champion

1924

US Open

Cyril Walker

1937

US Open

Ralph Guldahl

1951

US Open

Ben Hogan

1961

US Open

Gene Littler

1972

PGA Championship

Gary Player

1979

PGA Championship

David Graham

1981

US Senior Open

Arnold Palmer

1985

US Open

Andy North

1991

US Senior Open

Jack Nicklaus

1996

US Open

Steve Jones

2002

US Amateur

Ricky Barnes

2004

Ryder Cup Matches

TBD

2008

PGA Championship

TBD

Although many tournaments have been held throughout the years at Oakland
Hills, the one which gave the course its greatest reputation as "The Monster"
was the 1951 Open. Ben Hogan won with a total of 287 by shooting a final
round 67 after which he was quoted as saying "I am glad I brought this
course, this monster, to its knees." He also said that it was "the greatest
test of golf I have ever played and the toughest course."